"So much that if I was British born, I'd give him a headline in dollars which would set the town talking. There's everything in it except the men. He's got the German Emperor, and he'll get the Tsar. It's the smaller fry who don't listen." Bertie smiled. "Your Venus with the tow-coloured topknot seems to be in that boat. She's looking at you all the time." "Do you quarrel with her taste?" "No; but you know her pretty well, then?" "An impertinent question. She came over on the ship with me." "And wants to go back the same way--eh, what? Well, I'd like to interview Sir Jules anyway. There ought to be a column story in him." "Yes, he ought to be worth fifty dollars." "Did you say he'd got the German Emperor?" "I understand that's so; he's going down to Corfu to see him again. He'll get the thing through if I don't upset it." "Why should you upset it?" "Rattle up your brains and see the reason. I'm here to sell guns. While that man is dangling about an anteroom, kow-towing to menials, I shall be inside with the chief. It's common sense. I'm here to do business--he's here to prevent that kind of business being done." "Is he going to take the peerless Saxon with him?" "You seem rather hot on that scent." "A d----d fine woman! Look at her arms! She's got a style you don't often find among Englishwomen. I can't see her feet." "Ask the waiter to take away the table." "I'll bet she takes fives. Her eyes are of the 'get there' sort. Can't you feel her looking this way?" "I'm not conscious of any rise of temperature. If you've done looking, perhaps we'll smoke. They'll be coming out immediately." "Then you'll introduce me?" "Ah! I didn't say that. Is it brandy or Kümmel?" "Oh, brandy--if you've got to talk to women." They passed out into the corridor, and sat there near the band. The place was deliciously warm; it glowed with soft lights, and was redolent of the odours of flowers. Superbly dressed women rustled by them; men, who had dined well, lurched past with their hands in their pockets and cigarettes in their mouths. The Hungarians played one of Lehar's waltzes--a scene of colour and of life reflecting the holy of social holies and of the almighty dollar. Presently Sir Jules Achon came out, followed by the three girls. Now, Faber recognised the third. She was Claudine d'Arny, General d'Arny's daughter. The party was almost gone by before Gabrielle discovered him. She turned at once and held out her gloved hand. "The wager," she said, looking at him very earnestly; "I appear to have lost." "Well, there's nothing to pay anyway. Are you going through to the yacht?" "Yes, to Naples. Sir Jules wishes me to see Italy and then the Adriatic." "Full of pirates and wild men," said Eva Achon, who was by Gabrielle's side. "We shall all be carried away to a cave." "I didn't know they had so much taste. How do you do, Sir Jules?"